Saturday
“Jenna, you should go see a doctor.” Deputy Dave Kane handed her another box of tissues.
“It’s just a cold.” Sheriff Jenna Alton raised red-rimmed eyes to his face. “I’ll be fine in a few days.”
Kane shook his head. “It’s been over two weeks and you’re getting worse. Trying to cope with the horses in this weather isn’t helping.” He tapped the bottom of his cane on the floor. “Damn this knee. I should throw you in the car and make you go.”
“Good luck with that.” Jenna gave him a belligerent glare then wiped her red nose and sniffed.
Duke whined and rested his big head on the bed. His sad bloodhound eyes moved from Jenna to Kane as if he was reluctant to take sides.
Kane pointed to him. “See, even Duke knows you’re ill.” He threw one arm up into the air. “Okay, have it your own way. I’ll go make breakfast.”
Stymied, he made his way slowly into the kitchen and filled the kettle, then checked the hotcakes in the oven. Working with an ex-DEA agent living in witness protection with a new name and face as his superior had been one crazy adventure. Especially as she lived in fear of her life after giving evidence against underworld kingpin Viktor Carlos.
After leaving his job in the DC’s Special Forces Investigation Command, he’d found himself working off the grid in Black Rock Falls. At first life had been difficult, living a lie. The government had created a new identity for him after a terrorist planted a bomb under his car, killing his wife and leaving him with a titanium plate in his head. He’d settled into his new life until everything changed last fall. A maniac had shot him and he’d fallen into a canyon and shattered his knee, however the plate had become an asset. It had saved his life but he’d suffered short-term memory loss, his mind taking him back to the day he lost his wife, and the memories of his time after he arrived in Black Rock Falls had vanished. After extensive rehabilitation following surgery to replace the plate, he’d found his balance again and could walk on his reconstructed knee. The pain endured since the extensive surgeries had intensified with the freezing temperatures and, over the last few weeks, venturing outside had become near impossible.
He’d been in no shape to care for himself after leaving the hospital and had taken up Jenna’s offer of her spare room rather than try to cope in his cottage, set a stone’s throw from her house, a massive hundred-year-old ranch house, with big rooms and wide hallways, which made it easier to negotiate in his wheelchair than the cottage. For the first month, Deputy Shane Wolfe had arranged a nurse to care for him during the day, which was a pain as he could cope fine alone and only needed her for his injections. The well-equipped gym was perfect for his rehabilitation, but he had to admit having Jenna as his coach was a double-edged sword because although he enjoyed her company, she pushed him to exercise like a marine drill sergeant.
When Deputy Jake Rowley called to offer his assistance with the horses, Jenna had gladly accepted and insisted he stable his own mount on the ranch as recompense. Now, with Jenna ill, he was considering stabling the horses in town instead; it didn’t seem fair to drag Rowley to the ranch twice a day to check the horses as well as expecting him to take over the sheriff’s department in their absence. He refilled the coffee pot and leaned against the counter. Moments later, Rowley knocked on the front door.
“Coming.” Kane swung open the door and a blast of freezing air slammed him in the face, sending spirals of agony into his brain. He stood to one side and Rowley stamped his feet on the mat, then stepped inside, shucking his boots at the front door. Kane peered into the blizzard. “It’s getting worse out there. You’ll have to wait for the snowplow to come by and follow it back into town.”
“Sure looks that way.” Rowley shrugged out of his coat and Kane could feel the cold flowing from him and smell a hint of snow and horse on his clothes. “The horses are snug and warm. I’ve seen racing stables with less insulation. The double doors make all the difference and you have enough food in there to see you through June.”
Kane led the way to the kitchen. “I ordered extra supplies before the snow. I remembered how it was last year.” He hooked his cane over the back of a chair and went to t
he counter.
“How’s the sheriff?” Jake Rowley pulled off his gloves and dropped onto a chair.
Kane poured the coffee and handed him a cup, then turned back to the counter and broke eggs into a bowl. “Worse and she won’t go see a doctor.”
“She would have a hard time getting in to see old Doc Brown, he’s everyone’s favorite. I hear the women prefer to go to Doctor Abigail Sneed but Maggie said her friend waited three hours yesterday.” He sipped his beverage. “The other one, Doctor Weaver, has a notice in her window saying she’ll do home visits.” He raised a brow. “Do you figure being new in town the locals don’t trust her?”
Kane added butter to a pan and poured in the eggs. He wondered why their receptionist’s friend had decided to wait rather than go to a different doctor. “Doctor Weaver was here when I arrived. Exactly how long does it take to stop being a newbie?”
“Oh, twenty years or so, I guess.” Rowley grinned. “Maybe you should give her a call?”
“Give who a call?” Jenna strolled into the kitchen, then coughed and turned back in to the hallway. Sometime later, she re-emerged, her face flushed and eyes running.
Kane piled three plates with eggs and placed them on the table, then pulled the hotcakes from the oven. “The doctor.” He slid the hotcakes onto a plate and Rowley stood to take them from him. “I’ll make an appointment for her to come here so you don’t have to go out.” He reached for the coffee pot.
“You never give up, do you?” Jenna glared at him.
“Nope.” He set the coffee on the table and slid into a chair. ‘I’m calling her as soon as I’ve eaten—and there’s something else we need to discuss.”
‘Go on.” Jenna eyed him suspiciously.
“We can’t expect Jake to drive out before five every morning, do a day’s work, return to tend the horses, and then drive home in this weather.” Kane glanced at Rowley’s blank expression. “He hasn’t complained, but it was different when he had your help.”
“Yeah, I agree, it is too much as he’s handling the office as well.” Jenna looked at Rowley, who was staring at his plate. “Can you move into Kane’s cottage until I shake this cold? Only for a couple of days.” She sighed. “I’d ask you to move in here but Kane has my other spare room filled with his equipment.”
“Sure, ma’am, anything to help and it would save time.” Rowley smiled. “Not that caring for three horses is hard work.”
Kane gaped at her. Oh, boy, she’s moving Rowley into my cottage.
“Great! His spare room is all made up.” She glanced at Kane. “Knowing Kane as I do there will be enough food in there to feed an army.” She chuckled. “If you want to cook, that is, or you can join us for meals.”